Trees in Northwick Park 1830

David Roberts sketched these trees in Northwick Park in 1830 with watercolour over graphite. The majestic trees, ancient and gnarled, dominate the scene, their branches reaching skyward like supplicating arms. Notice the small deer nestled at the base of the tree. Across cultures, the deer is an ancient symbol of innocence, gentleness, and connection to the forest. Yet, it also embodies a kind of primordial fear, the hunted creature ever vigilant. In ancient Greek mythology, Artemis, goddess of the hunt, often took the form of a deer, embodying both predator and prey. This dichotomy is not new. In medieval tapestries, the deer hunt symbolized the Christian soul's pursuit of enlightenment, transforming the animal into a metaphor for spiritual seeking, reflecting a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols.